2.ElectricarcphenomenainLVCB.PDF

European Association for the International Conference on Renewable Energies and Power Quality Development of Renewable Energies, (ICREPQ’11) Environment and Power Quality (EA4EPQ) Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain), 13th to 15th April, 2011 Analysis of the Electric Arc in Low Voltage Circuit Breakers 1 2 2 A. Iturregi , E. Torres , I. Zamora 1 Department of Electrical Engineering EUITMOP, University of the Basque Country Colina Beurko s/n, 48901 Barakaldo (Spain) Phone/Fax number: +34 94 601 4979/7800, e-mail: araitz.iturregi@ehu.es 2 Department of Electrical Engineering ETSI, University of the Basque Country Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48001 Bilbao (Spain) Phone/Fax number: +34 94 601 7332/4200, e-mail: esther.torresi@ehu.es, inmaculada.zamora@ehu.es Abstract. Low Voltage Circuit Breakers (LVCBs) play an flowing. Thus, the current interruption involves the important role in electric power systems as they are responsible extinction of the electric arc, which is achieved when the for switching on and off electric currents, as well as for safety interrupting medium between contacts becomes again an of equipment and human beings. Th